Juilliard School Violist Teaches Tanzanians More Than 'Twinkle'
Hannah Ross on empowering young students who hadn't heard a stringed instrument
Dear readers,
Looking up and seeing unknown constellations while breathing in unfamiliar scents of the African night is something I’ll always remember. After months of meetings and fund-raisers, I had finally arrived in Arusha, Tanzania, where I, along with five other Juilliard School students, would be conducting a performing arts workshop in music, dance, and drama at the Umoja Youth Empowerment Centre as part of the Arusha Arts Initiative.
Umoja offers a yearlong program for teenagers and young adults, ages 14–26, who have had little schooling but wish to continue their studies to further themselves in the world. Two Juilliard students, who wished to introduce the performing arts where they’re not readily available, created the arts initiative. After discovering Umoja, they and four other Juilliard students hosted a two-week arts workshop in May 2009. It was such a success that Umoja invited them back this year.
As part of the team, my job was to relate the art of music to 40 students, most of whom had never seen or heard a viola in their lives. However, my goal of the two weeks was not to teach them how to play “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” on viola—I wanted to give them tools to fully develop their potential. I was hoping to induce their curiosity, inspire creativity, and make them realize that their own individual voices are the most important things they can offer our world.
